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Mets and David Wright launch `The Wright Thing' community program

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Press Release |

The New York Mets today announced the launch of "The Wright Thing," a community program created by David Wright to honor and recognize volunteers who made an extraordinary impact on the lives of individuals and organizations impacted by Hurricane Sandy. The season-long initiative seeks to raise awareness that more work needs to be done as our hometown continues the recovery and rebuilding process.

The Mets and Wright today will welcome Jerry Chan to Citi Field as the program's first honoree. Chan coordinated relief efforts for thousands of residents at Knickerbocker Village in Manhattan, a community of 13 buildings that was without power for one month after Sandy. Chan led a group of volunteers that worked seven days a week going door to door, delivering food and supplies to many of the 3,000 middle- to low-income residents, many of whom were elderly and only spoke Cantonese. Chan is a volunteer for the Community Emergency Response Team, organized by the New York City Office for Emergency Management.

As a Wright Thing honoree, Jerry Chan will meet with Wright before tonight's game and receive an autograph mini-replica of third base. He will sit in VIP seats behind third base and be honored on Citi Vision during the game.

Wright was inspired to create The Wright Thing after a trip to Staten Island last December to make a $250,000 donation with the Mets Foundation to the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City supporting hurricane restoration efforts. Wright witnessed the devastation caused by the storm and those images and dedication of the residents and volunteers to rebuild their communities left a lasting impression.

"My visit to Staten Island was truly eye-opening," Wright said. "I wanted to do something to help repay the thousands of volunteers who devoted countless hours to helping our City recover. It's an honor and inspiration for me to meet people like Jerry who gave so much of themselves to help others during this ongoing crisis."

Wright also shot a public service announcement that will air in park about the importance of Sandy relief efforts and encourage those wanting to help to visit NYCService.org.